Is your Turkish citizenship application stuck in security investigation? Learn what foreigners can do about prolonged security screening, incorrect records, administrative delay and possible court remedies in Turkey in 2026.

A Turkish citizenship application may remain pending for a long period while the authorities conduct national-security and public-order screening. For foreigners who have already completed the main application stages, seeing the file remain under investigation for months—or substantially longer—can create uncertainty about whether the application is simply being examined or has effectively stopped progressing.

A prolonged security investigation does not automatically mean that citizenship has been rejected. However, foreigners do not necessarily have to remain passive indefinitely. Depending on the circumstances, they may request information about the file, submit documents correcting inaccurate records, make a formal written application asking the administration to conclude the process and, where prolonged administrative inactivity becomes legally challengeable, evaluate proceedings before the administrative courts.

National-security and public-order screening is a substantive part of Turkish citizenship law. General naturalization requires the applicant to have no condition constituting an obstacle concerning national security or public order, and the same basic restriction applies to exceptional citizenship.

Why Do Turkish Citizenship Applications Undergo Security Investigation?

Citizenship is not determined solely by residence, marriage, property ownership or investment.

For general naturalization, Turkish Citizenship Law No. 5901 requires the applicant to satisfy several conditions, including five years of qualifying residence, intention to settle, appropriate personal conduct, sufficient means of support and absence of a national-security or public-order obstacle.

Exceptional citizenship also remains subject to national-security and public-order screening. Therefore, even an investor who has completed a qualifying investment can encounter a lengthy security-review stage.

Current official citizenship guidance confirms that applications are evaluated by the citizenship administration and that applicants who do not present a national-security or public-order obstacle proceed toward the final citizenship decision.

Does “Security Investigation” Mean the Application Will Be Rejected?

No.

A pending security investigation and a final citizenship rejection are legally different situations.

The fact that an application remains at the security-review stage does not establish that the authorities have found an adverse security record. It may mean that investigations, correspondence between authorities or administrative evaluations have not yet been completed.

Applicants should therefore avoid treating an online application status as if it were a formal rejection decision.

At the same time, an application remaining indefinitely at the same stage should not automatically be considered normal merely because no rejection has yet been issued.

Is There a Guaranteed Time Limit for Security Investigation?

Applicants should be cautious about claims that every citizenship security investigation must finish within a particular number of months.

The official citizenship materials reviewed for this 2026 guide confirm that national-security and public-order assessment forms part of the citizenship process, but they do not establish a universal guaranteed completion period for every citizenship security investigation.

Processing time can therefore vary depending on the citizenship route, applicant’s history, documents, administrative correspondence and whether additional investigation is considered necessary.

A long processing period by itself does not establish either approval or rejection.

What Should a Foreigner Do First?

The first step is to establish the actual procedural position of the citizenship file.

The citizenship administration provides an application-status system through which applicants can follow citizenship proceedings.

However, an online status message may not explain why the investigation is taking a long time.

Where the file has remained unchanged for an unusually long period, the applicant should consider making a documented written inquiry to the competent citizenship authority rather than relying exclusively on repeated online checks.

Can Foreigners Submit a Written Request About the Delay?

Yes.

A carefully prepared written application can request information about the procedural status of the citizenship file and ask the administration to take the necessary action where the application has remained unresolved.

The request should normally identify the applicant clearly, provide the citizenship application or file information, state when the application was submitted and explain how long the relevant stage has remained pending.

The purpose is not to demand automatic citizenship. It is to require the administration to address the pending administrative process in accordance with applicable law.

Can the Applicant Ask Why the Security Investigation Is Taking So Long?

The applicant can request information, but access to security-related material may be restricted.

National-security investigations may involve information that cannot necessarily be disclosed in full through an ordinary information request. Therefore, applicants should distinguish between requesting the status of the application and expecting unrestricted access to every document used in a security investigation.

The absence of full disclosure does not necessarily mean that the applicant has no legal remedies.

If an adverse decision is ultimately issued and challenged before an administrative court, the legality of the administrative decision may become subject to judicial examination.

What If the Security Investigation Is Based on Incorrect Information?

This is one of the most important issues to investigate.

A citizenship file can become complicated because of mistaken identity, similar names, different passport spellings, outdated immigration information, an old criminal investigation, an entry or exit discrepancy or another incorrect administrative record.

Current citizenship administration functions expressly include correcting or completing erroneous or missing information in citizenship-related records using supporting documents in the citizenship file.

If an applicant suspects an identity or record problem, the issue should therefore be documented rather than simply waiting for the investigation to finish.

What Evidence Can Help Correct a Mistaken Identity?

Depending on the problem, useful evidence may include current and former passports, birth records, documents concerning name changes, civil-status records, criminal court decisions, acquittal decisions, documents establishing that an investigation was closed, and records demonstrating that information attributed to the applicant actually concerns another person.

The exact evidence depends on the source of the discrepancy.

Applicants with common names or different transliterations across passports should pay particular attention to whether all government records correctly identify the same person.

Can an Old Criminal Case Delay Citizenship?

Potentially.

A previous criminal investigation, prosecution or conviction may become relevant during a public-order assessment, depending on its nature and outcome.

However, applicants should distinguish between an allegation, an ongoing investigation, a final conviction and a case that ended favorably.

If an old proceeding ended in acquittal or another favorable final outcome, the applicant should consider whether the citizenship authorities have access to the current and accurate result rather than an outdated record.

Security screening should not be approached on the assumption that every historical criminal record automatically requires citizenship rejection.

Can a Foreign Criminal Record Affect Security Screening?

Potentially, yes.

Foreign criminal records can be relevant to citizenship assessment, particularly where the information raises public-order or security concerns.

Applicants who know that an overseas criminal record exists should obtain accurate official documentation showing the nature of the offense, date, sentence and final status of the proceeding.

Where a record has been expunged, overturned or otherwise legally changed, the current legal status should be documented.

What If the Applicant Has No Criminal Record?

A clean criminal history does not necessarily mean that security screening will be completed immediately.

National-security and public-order assessments are broader than a simple criminal-record certificate. The citizenship authority’s current guidance expressly treats the absence of national-security and public-order obstacles as a distinct element of the citizenship evaluation.

Accordingly, a prolonged investigation does not necessarily imply the existence of a criminal case.

Can Incorrect Immigration Records Delay the Investigation?

Yes.

Errors involving names, passport numbers, residence history, entry-exit information or other immigration records can create inconsistencies requiring further investigation.

Where an applicant discovers an error, supporting documents should be submitted promptly.

Current citizenship administrative structures expressly provide for correction and completion of erroneous or missing records related to citizenship files.

Waiting for the authorities to discover the explanation independently may unnecessarily prolong the process.

Should Foreigners Continue Their Residence Authorization While Citizenship Is Pending?

Yes, where continued lawful stay depends on it.

A pending citizenship application should not be treated as a substitute for the applicant’s existing immigration or employment status.

This is especially important when security screening lasts a long time. Applicants should continue to comply with the legal requirements governing their residence or employment authorization rather than assuming that the pending citizenship application independently permits them to remain or work in Turkey.

Does Investment Citizenship Receive Automatic Approval After Security Screening Begins?

No.

Investment eligibility and citizenship approval are separate matters.

Exceptional citizenship remains expressly subject to the requirement that the applicant have no condition constituting an obstacle concerning national security or public order.

Accordingly, completing a qualifying property purchase, capital investment, bank deposit or another investment condition does not eliminate security screening.

An investor whose application remains under security investigation should therefore determine whether the delay concerns investment eligibility or the separate citizenship assessment.

Can a Lawyer Submit a Request on Behalf of the Applicant?

Citizenship procedures may permit representation through specifically authorized legal representation where the applicable procedure allows it, although certain acts requiring personal attendance cannot simply be delegated.

For a prolonged file, legal representation can be particularly useful for documenting requests, identifying discrepancies and evaluating whether administrative inactivity has reached the point at which judicial action should be considered.

The objective should be to create a clear procedural record rather than merely submitting repeated informal inquiries.

Can a Foreign Applicant Force the Authorities to Approve Citizenship?

No.

There is an important difference between requesting the administration to make a lawful decision and demanding that the decision must be favorable.

Turkish citizenship is not automatically acquired merely because an application has remained pending for a long time.

The applicant may be able to challenge unlawful administrative inactivity or an unlawful final rejection, but a court action should not be described as a mechanism that automatically converts a pending application into citizenship.

Can Administrative Court Proceedings Be Considered?

Potentially, yes.

Where a citizenship application remains unresolved for an excessive period, the applicant may need to evaluate whether the administration’s inactivity can be brought within the mechanisms of Turkish administrative procedure.

The strategy often begins with a formal written administrative application requesting that the pending matter be concluded. The response—or failure to respond—can then become important in determining whether and when administrative judicial remedies are available.

The exact litigation route and filing period depend on the procedural history of the individual case. Applicants should therefore avoid filing solely on the basis of how long the online status has remained unchanged.

Can a Court Review a Citizenship Security Decision?

Yes, citizenship decisions are not completely insulated from judicial review merely because the administration relied on an investigative assessment.

The Constitutional Court has previously examined a citizenship refusal arising from an administrative investigation and found a violation of the constitutional right to respect for private life in the circumstances of that case. The underlying citizenship application had been rejected based on information contained in a security authority’s investigation report.

This does not mean that every security-based citizenship refusal is unlawful. It demonstrates, however, that administrative citizenship decisions remain subject to constitutional and judicial standards.

Will the Court See Confidential Security Information?

Administrative litigation involving security information can raise special procedural issues concerning confidential documents and the applicant’s ability to respond to the substance of allegations.

The existence of confidential information does not automatically eliminate judicial review.

The applicant’s lawyer should examine what information has actually been relied upon, what can lawfully be disclosed and whether the applicant has had a meaningful opportunity to challenge factual inaccuracies affecting the decision.

Can the Court Directly Grant Turkish Citizenship?

The safer legal distinction is that administrative courts review the lawfulness of administrative action or inaction.

An action seeking judicial review should therefore not be presented as a simple request asking a judge to personally approve a citizenship application.

Depending on the case, the objective may instead be to obtain judicial review of unlawful inactivity or annul an unlawful rejection so that the administration must reconsider the matter in accordance with the judgment.

What If the Application Is Eventually Rejected After the Security Investigation?

The applicant should obtain and examine the formal decision immediately.

A rejection based on national security or public order requires a different strategy from a file that is merely pending.

The applicant should determine the legal basis for the decision, identify whether incorrect information may have been used and evaluate administrative judicial remedies without assuming that informal correspondence will preserve litigation deadlines.

This distinction is critical because a final rejection can trigger procedural time limits.

Can a New Application Solve the Problem?

Not necessarily.

If the underlying issue is an incorrect security record, mistaken identity or unresolved public-order concern, filing another citizenship application may reproduce the same problem.

The applicant should first determine why the existing application is not progressing.

A new application makes more sense only where there is a legal or procedural reason to start again and the underlying obstacle has been addressed.

Practical Example: Application Pending for a Long Time

A foreign professional in Ankara completes a general naturalization application and later sees that the file remains in security investigation for a prolonged period.

Rather than repeatedly checking the online status, the applicant can document the timeline, make a formal written request concerning the unresolved application and evaluate further administrative remedies if no meaningful action follows.

Practical Example: Similar Name Creates a Security Problem

A foreign entrepreneur in Istanbul has the same name as another individual appearing in adverse records.

The applicant should gather passport, birth and identity documentation capable of distinguishing the two individuals and seek correction of inaccurate information associated with the citizenship file.

Practical Example: Old Criminal Investigation

A foreign resident in Izmir was investigated several years earlier but the proceeding ended without a conviction.

If the citizenship security review appears to rely on outdated information, documentation showing the final outcome can become important in correcting the administrative picture.

Practical Example: Investment Citizenship

A foreign investor in Bursa has completed the qualifying investment but the citizenship application remains under security investigation.

The investment does not create automatic approval because exceptional citizenship remains subject to national-security and public-order assessment. The investor should therefore focus on the citizenship investigation rather than attempting to prove the investment repeatedly if that stage has already been completed.

Practical Example: Incorrect Immigration Information

A foreign business owner in Mersin discovers that an old passport number is incorrectly associated with the citizenship file.

The applicant should submit reliable documentation linking the old and new passports and seek correction of the underlying record rather than simply waiting for the security investigation to resolve the discrepancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does a long security investigation mean my citizenship application has been rejected?

No. A pending investigation is not the same as a formal citizenship rejection.

2. Is there a guaranteed number of months for citizenship security screening?

The official citizenship materials reviewed do not establish one universal guaranteed completion period applicable to every security investigation.

3. Can I ask the citizenship authority about the delay?

Yes. A documented written request concerning the procedural status and completion of a prolonged application can be considered.

4. Can incorrect records cause the security investigation to last longer?

Yes. Identity, passport, immigration and other administrative discrepancies can require additional examination. Citizenship authorities also perform correction procedures for erroneous or incomplete citizenship-related records.

5. Does having no criminal record guarantee quick security clearance?

No. National-security and public-order assessment is broader than checking a criminal-record certificate.

6. Can an old criminal investigation affect citizenship?

Potentially. The nature and final outcome of the proceeding matter. Applicants should ensure that outdated information does not obscure a later acquittal or other favorable result.

7. Can an investor’s citizenship application remain under security investigation?

Yes. Exceptional citizenship remains subject to national-security and public-order screening even after the qualifying investment has been established.

8. Can I go to court if the application remains unresolved?

Potentially. The appropriate administrative judicial remedy depends on the procedural history, including any formal request submitted to the administration and its response or continued inactivity.

9. Can a court review a security-based citizenship matter?

Yes. Citizenship decisions can be subjected to judicial and constitutional review. The Constitutional Court has previously examined a citizenship refusal based on an administrative investigation and found a constitutional violation in the circumstances of that case.

10. Does winning a case automatically make me a Turkish citizen?

Not necessarily. Judicial review of an unlawful rejection or administrative inactivity should be distinguished from the administration’s substantive citizenship decision.

Legal Assistance for Citizenship Files Stuck in Security Investigation

A Turkish citizenship application remaining in security investigation for a prolonged period requires a different strategy from an ordinary application that is simply moving slowly. The applicant should determine whether the problem is genuine administrative delay, an identity discrepancy, outdated criminal information, incorrect immigration records or an unresolved national-security or public-order assessment.

The 2026 citizenship framework continues to make national-security and public-order screening a substantive condition for both general and exceptional citizenship. Current official guidance also confirms that citizenship applications are evaluated by the citizenship administration before eligible files proceed toward the final decision.

Applicants should therefore create a documented procedural record. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve reviewing the complete citizenship history, submitting corrective evidence, making a formal written request for action and evaluating administrative judicial remedies if the administration continues to leave the application unresolved without a legally sufficient basis.

Firat Fesih Kaya Law Office provides legal assistance to foreign investors, professionals, business owners and long-term residents in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Mersin, Bursa and throughout Turkey whose citizenship applications remain under prolonged security or public-order investigation.

Legal assistance may include reviewing the citizenship application timeline, identifying possible identity or immigration-record problems, preparing formal administrative applications, submitting acquittal or criminal-case documents, correcting inaccurate records, examining public-order and national-security issues and evaluating administrative court proceedings concerning prolonged inactivity or a subsequent citizenship rejection.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile / WhatsApp: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Office: Mevlana Boulevard No:221, Yildirim Tower, Balgat, Cankaya, Ankara, Turkey

The key 2026 principle is clear: a citizenship file that remains in security investigation is not automatically rejected, but prolonged silence should not always be met with indefinite waiting. Foreign applicants can document the delay, investigate possible record errors, submit corrective evidence, formally request administrative action and, where the legal conditions are satisfied, evaluate judicial remedies against unlawful administrative inactivity or a subsequent rejection.